Housing

Extra care housing is for older people who need support with daily living and have higher or changing care needs.

There are currently 4 extra care housing complexes in Renfrewshire with accommodation that can be rented through housing associations.

These are run in partnership by local housing associations, the council and our community health partnerships.

The complexes enable people with care needs to live in their own flat as independently as possible, but with the security of 24-hour access to on-site care and support.

Each complex offers a mix of wheelchair-accessible accommodation and 2-bedroom flats.

People living in extra care accommodation have individual personal alarms linked to the care team.

Many complexes have shared facilities and services such as a lounge, dining area and garden.

Extra care housing provides more personal care support than sheltered housing and very sheltered housing. 

The range of support available depends on your needs. Staff can help you with things you might have difficulty doing on your own, including:

• getting out of bed
• making breakfast
• maintaining personal hygiene and continence care
• getting dressed
• supporting you with your medication.

You can apply to live in extra care housing if you are aged 60 or over and have care support needs.

There are 4 extra care housing complexes in Renfrewshire at:

• Arnott Gardens, Linwood - managed by Linstone Housing Association
• Banktop Court, Johnstone - managed by Hanover Scotland Housing Association
• Clayson House, Erskine - managed by Bridgewater Housing Association
• Robertson House, Erskine - managed by Bridgewater Housing Association.

Applications for extra care housing in Renfrewshire are handled by the individual housing associations.

You should visit the complexes before you apply to help you decide which one is best for you.

If you want to apply for extra care housing, you'll need to contact the housing association directly at:

Bridgewater Housing Association

• phone: 0141 812 2237
• email: admin@bridgewaterha.org.uk

Hanover Scotland Housing Association

• phone: 0800 111 4646
• email: hello@hanover.scot

Linstone Housing Association

• phone: 01505 382 383
• email: general@linstone.co.uk

When you make an application with a housing association, they will request a social work assessment from your local social work team to fully understand your needs.

Your application will be passed to an allocation panel, where it will be considered and prioritised by the level of your care and support needs.

The housing association you have applied for will then get in touch to let you know your place on the waiting list.

More information

For more information on extra care housing in Renfrewshire, you should contact the housing associations directly.

All extra care housing properties are rented. You cannot buy your extra care housing property.

The cost to rent depends on the size and location of the accommodation. This is set by the individual housing association.

As well as rent, there will also be a service charge and a cost for meals.

You can find out more information on these charges by contacting the housing association directly.

New Supply Shared Equity scheme

What it is

Through the New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE) scheme, you may be able to buy a new-build home from a housing association without having to fund the entire cost.

You'll pay the biggest share of the home's cost, usually between 60% and 80%. The Scottish Government will pay for the rest under a 'shared equity agreement'.

For example, if you pay for 70% of the home, the Scottish Government will pay for a 30% share. If you want, you'll usually be able to buy a bigger share later on.

Your name will be on the title deeds for the home, but there will be a mortgage, or 'standard security', on the home to make sure the Scottish Government's share is protected.

It also means that if you ever choose to sell the home, the Scottish Government will get a share of the money.

Read more about how the NSSE scheme works (Scottish Government website).

Who can get it

The NSSE scheme is available across Scotland to first-time buyers and people from these 'priority access' groups:

• people aged 60 and over
• social renters - people who rent from the council or a housing association
• disabled people
• members of the armed forces
• veterans who have left the armed forces within the past 2 years
• widows, widowers, and other partners of service personnel for up to 2 years after their partner lost their life while serving.

The NSSE scheme is also available to people who have previously owned a home and have had a significant change in circumstances, such as a marital breakdown.

How to apply

Contact a housing association directly to ask them if they have any homes available through the NSSE scheme.

Open Market Shared Equity scheme

What it is

Through the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme, you may be able to buy a home that's for sale on the open market without having to fund the entire cost.

You'll pay the biggest share of the home's cost, usually between 60% and 90%. The Scottish Government will pay for the rest under a 'shared equity agreement'.

For example, if you pay for 70% of the home, the Scottish Government will pay for a 30% share. If you want, you'll usually be able to buy a bigger share later on.

Your name will be on the title deeds for the home, but there will be a mortgage, or 'standard security', on the home to make sure the Scottish Government's share is protected.

It also means that if you ever choose to sell the home, the Scottish Government will get a share of the money.

The OMSE scheme is only available for homes within set price limits:

• 1 bedroom / 2 apartment - £65,000
• 2 bedrooms / 3 apartment - £80,000
• 3 bedrooms / 4 apartment - £105,000
• 4 bedrooms / 5 apartment - £135,000
• 5 bedrooms / 6 apartment - £240,000

Here, 'apartment' refers to habitable rooms, including bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and box rooms. It does not include kitchens, bathrooms, or conservatories. For example, a 3-apartment home could have two bedrooms and a living room.

Read more about how the OMSE scheme works (Scottish Government website).

Who can get it

The OMSE scheme is available across Scotland to first-time buyers and people from these 'priority access' groups:

• people aged 60 and over
• social renters - people who rent from the council or a housing association
• disabled people
• members of the armed forces
• veterans who have left the armed forces within the past 2 years
• widows, widowers, and other partners of service personnel for up to 2 years after their partner lost their life while serving.

How to apply

In Renfrewshire, the OMSE scheme is run by Link Housing Association (non-council website). Contact them directly to ask them about the scheme:

• phone 03451 400 100
• email csc@linkhaltd.co.uk.

If you want to buy a home but cannot afford one on the open market, you may be able to share the cost with the Scottish Government.

Through the 2 shared equity schemes available in Renfrewshire, you would buy a home by paying for most of it yourself, with the Scottish Government paying for the rest.

You would have full ownership of the home, but you would have to repay the equity stake held by the Scottish Government if you ever chose to sell the home.

This helps you on the way to owning your own home without having to fund it all yourself.

There are 2 schemes that can help you buy a home through shared equity:

• New Supply Shared Equity scheme
• Open Market Shared Equity scheme.

Our advisers will find out about your situation and offer advice. They can:

• help you understand your fuel bills and meter readings
• act on your behalf when dealing with energy companies
• help you get the best out of your heating system
• recommend energy-saving measures
• help if you're in or at risk of fuel poverty, including signposting you to other services available to you (fuel poverty is when you spend more than 10% of your income on heating your home)
• advise you on cheaper deals for electricity and gas
• help you switch energy providers and payment methods
• help you monitor your energy usage efficiently, which can help you to avoid accumulating fuel debt
• help you agree payment plans with energy suppliers
• make sure that you're repaying any arrears (debt) at a reasonable rate
• make sure that you have access to any emergency financial assistance available.

Our free energy advice is available to anyone living in Renfrewshire. It does not matter if you own your home or rent.

Before getting in touch, read our top energy-saving tips. They could help you get in control of your bills and energy use.

Behaviour changes

• Close your curtains at dusk.
• When using the kettle, boil only what you need instead of filling it all the way.
• Do not dry your clothes on a radiator. This makes your boiler work harder, which costs more.
• When boiling vegetables, use just enough water to cover them.
• Fill up your washing machine, tumble dryer, and dishwasher all the way. 1 full load uses less energy than 2 half loads.
• Fix any leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off. A dripping hot water tap wastes enough energy in a week to fill half a bath.
• Cook big batches of food in the oven at once. Freeze what you do not need.
• Wash clothes on a lower temperature setting.
• Take showers instead of baths. Keep your showers to a maximum of 5 minutes.
• Turn electrical appliances off. Do not leave them on standby.
• Turn lights off when you leave a room.
• When cooking, chop meat and vegetables into smaller pieces. This helps them cook quicker.

Insulation and draught proofing

• Use simple draught proofing, such as sausage-dog excluders and draught strips.
• Insulate your water cylinder with an 80mm jacket.
• Insulate your loft with 270mm of loft insulation. This can save £150 per year over 40 years.
• If your walls are suitable, install cavity-wall insulation. This can save £120 per year.

Appliances

• If you're buying a new fridge-freezer, look for a band 'A' model. These are more energy efficient and can save £45 per year.
• Switch to low-energy bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer and cost about 75% less to run.
• Turn down your central-heating thermostat. Turning it down just 1 degree could save you 10% on your fuel bill.
• Make sure your water is not too hot. Your cylinder thermostat should be set to 60°C or 140°F.

Email us at emu@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Phone us on 0300 3000 300 and say you are looking for energy advice.

After you've been in touch and requested energy advice, one of our energy advisers will contact you by email or over the phone. Then, your adviser will begin working with you directly.

What your options are

If you're looking for an affordable, long-term home, you could:

• apply for council housing
• apply to rent a home from a housing association.

You could apply for both options, but you might prefer one over the other.

Read this guide to learn more and help you decide whether to apply for council housing, housing associations, or both.

Council housing

What council housing is

'Council housing' are houses and flats owned by the council. They have more affordable rents and more secure tenancies than many private rentals.

Who can get council housing

You can apply for council housing if you're over 16.

Because there's lots of demand for council housing, we offer homes to people based on their level of need. You're more likely to get a council home if you:

• are homeless or could become homeless
• live in a home that's too small for the number of people living there
• have a medical condition made worse by your current home.

Check our housing allocation policy if you want the full details.

How council housing works

Once you've applied for council housing, we'll contact you within 10 days to discuss your housing needs and options. Then, once you're on our waiting list for council housing, you can:

• wait until we contact you about an available home in Renfrewshire
• 'bid' on certain homes that are available in specific areas of Paisley, Renfrew, and Johnstone.

Council housing comes with more affordable rents and more secure tenancies. There are other benefits, such as having some repairs and maintenance covered by the council. But you might be on our waiting list for a while, depending on your level of need and what homes are available.

Learn more about council housing and how to apply.

Housing associations

What housing associations are

Housing associations are not-for-profit organisations that provide affordable homes to people.

Although housing associations are not part of the council, we work closely with them to help local people find homes. For example, we can refer people who have applied for council housing to get a housing association property.

Who can apply to housing associations

Anyone who is 16 or older can apply to a housing association.

Because of demand, housing associations usually prioritise people from specific groups, including:

• people on a low income
• older people
• disabled people
• people who need support to live in their own home.

How housing associations work

You must apply directly to a housing association, not to the council, if you want to get onto a housing association's waiting list.

Different housing associations cover different areas, so you might want to apply to more than one, depending on where you want to live.

Once you're on a waiting list, the housing association will contact you once they have a suitable home to offer you.

Housing associations come with more affordable rents and more secure tenancies. They invest their revenue back into the homes and communities they serve.

Learn more about housing associations and how to apply.